The Auction

by Claire Thompson

  Carly opened her mouth to protest, her cheeks scalding, her heart racing. She realized she was sputtering, too flustered and outraged to say anything coherent, anything that this smug, self-satisfied son of a bitch would hear. She felt lightheaded, the blood roaring in her ears as she stood, moving on wooden legs out of his office, ignoring Gina’s questioning glance as she pushed her way blindly out of the building.

  Chapter 14

  Carly walked quickly around to the back of the building toward the lot where her car waited. She had to lean against the back wall of the building for several minutes until her head cleared and her breathing returned to normal. Though her eyes were hot with unshed tears, she refused to give the smug bastard sitting inside the satisfaction of crying.

  Instead, she reminded herself how strong she was. She’d been independent since she was eighteen. She’d been exposed to misogynistic assholes many times before, especially some of the entitled attorneys at the law office where she’d worked. She’d been a New Yorker for the last decade. She could take anything anyone decided to dish out, and come out fighting.

  Screw Jack Butler, screw Adam Wise.

  Even as this thought moved like a whip through her mind, she knew underneath her anger and her pain that she could trust Adam to keep his word. Even if he’d sent her away without giving her a chance, he wouldn’t let the auction house screw her over when it came to her payment. She had to believe this.

  All she had to do was hang on another three weeks. She would find friends who would let her crash for a day or two on their couches. She might find temporary work. If absolutely necessary she would sleep in her car. At least it wasn’t winter. It would be weeks before she even needed to use the heat. She would be fine.

  Then she’d get her money, which would give her some breathing room while she figured out what to do next with her life. She’d drive down to Texas or maybe to Florida. She’d find work. Maybe she’d go to college part time and get a degree in business or something. She was only thirty-two and the world was hers for the taking.

  Though that world didn’t contain the one man who had somehow slipped deep into her heart, the one man she knew it would take years for her to get over, to put behind her, to forget… Again the tears tried to push their way into her eyes, and again she reminded herself she was strong. She needed no one.

  Carly began to walk back to her car, holding on to her new resolve like a lifeline. As she walked she saw a small, sexy sports car pull into the back lot from a side street. Though there were plenty of spaces in the lot, for some reason the car pulled into the space directly beside her car.

  As Carly came closer she could see a man in the driver’s seat, though because the windows were tinted, she couldn’t see his features. Then the car door opened and Carly’s heart constricted almost painfully, as if the person stepping out of the car had reached in and squeezed.

  Her pride told her to look away, to pretend she hadn’t seen the man who had hurt her so badly. She was rooted to the spot, drinking in the sight of him as if it had been years, rather than just hours, since he’d sent her away.

  “Carly! Oh, Carly, I’m so glad I found you!”

  His words and the expression on his face—a heartbreaking mixture of relief, joy and apprehension—melted the last of her defenses. All self-made promises to put him behind her—to move on and forget the man who had occupied her every waking moment and much of her dreams for the past week—were forgotten in that instant.

  Adam stepped out of the car. He was still wearing the same shorts and T-shirt he’d had on early that morning, his cheeks stubbled with five o’clock shadow, his dark hair tousled, his gray eyes burning into hers.

  “Adam,” Carly whispered, no longer trying to fight the tears that sprang to her eyes and slipped down her cheeks.

  Stepping toward her, Adam touched her red slave collar, his eyes softening with sorrow. His hand traveled upward and he stroked away her tears with his thumb, the gesture at once tender and sensual.

  Carly tried to muster righteous anger. This man had sent her away without giving her a chance, breaking the contract, breaking her heart. Thanks to him she might well be out of the money owed her. Because of him she’d had to endure that bastard Butler’s harangue. Yet in spite of all this, she couldn’t seem to stop her lips from lifting into an absurdly happy grin. She had to restrain herself, wrapping her arms around her torso to keep from flinging them around Adam and pulling him close.

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded.

  “I came to find you.” Adam glanced from her to her car and Carly felt herself flushing. She stood straighter, daring him with her eyes to make some rude remark about her car and her obvious dire straits. She readied herself with a sharp retort, something involving silver spoons and entitled bastards.

  But Adam made no remark, disparaging or otherwise. Instead he stepped closer to her, reaching for her hand. Though Carly hadn't meant to, she let him take it. The yearning in his face was so palpable that she felt her anger melting away as she lost herself in his gaze. When he pulled her close, she let him, pressing her face against his chest and breathing in his scent, feeling she could stay cocooned in his strong arms for the rest of her life.

  When Adam finally let her go, he stepped back, looking around the parking lot as if just realizing where he was. “I saw you walking from the building. Did you get everything squared away with the auction house?”

  Carly found herself blurting out the whole story, the words tumbling over themselves as she gave vent to her frustration and outrage. As she spoke, Adam’s face grew dark, his mouth drawing down in a frown.

  “Let’s go,” he said, taking her hand. “We’ll just straighten this out right now. I don’t give a shit what the terms of the contract are, that man had no right to talk to you like that. Who the fuck does he think he is?”

  They entered the building, Adam bursting through the doors, Carly right behind him. “I need to see Jack Butler,” he said to Gina. “Now.”

  Gina looked from Adam to Carly and back to Adam. She stood abruptly and turned back to Mr. Butler’s office, knocking lightly on the door and then slipping inside, closing the door behind her.

  A moment later Jack Butler emerged, a small, tight smile on his face. “Mr. Wise. A pleasure,” he said, extending his hand.

  “We need to talk,” Adam replied, not taking the offered hand. “In your office.”

  “Absolutely,” Mr. Butler replied, his tone unctuous. “I apologize for this slave’s behavior. We will do everything we can to make things right for you.” Turning to Carly, the man added in a sour tone, “You will wait out here, slave Carly.”

  “No, she will not wait out here,” Adam retorted, putting his arm around Carly. “This directly concerns her.”

  Mr. Butler frowned, but bowed slightly in acquiescence as he waved the two of them into his office. He sat again behind his huge desk and leaned forward. “What is this all about, Mr. Wise?”

  “What it’s about is that I realized I made a mistake in taking on a slave for hire and using her like a sex object without regard or knowledge of her as a human being.”

  Mr. Butler had again pasted an insincere smile on his face, but his voice was tight. “You were clearly informed of the terms of the contract, Mr. Wise. If you’re seeking a return of your deposit it’s absolutely—”

  Adam shook his head impatiently. “I’m not seeking anything back. You’re right—I knew what I was getting into, or I thought I did. I paid the money, and Carly did everything she was supposed to do, and more. She was exemplary in her behavior in every respect.”

  Carly swallowed, aware this wasn’t entirely true, as she’d failed to disclose her claustrophobia until it was too late. She was mutely grateful that Adam didn’t bring this up.

  “You can keep every dime and you’re welcome to it,” Adam continued. “I also understand the contract doesn’t provide payment to the slave until the term is expired, but I am here to make sure you underst
and that slave Carly has fulfilled her side of the contract to the letter, and she will be paid what is owed her when it’s due. Are we both crystal clear on that?”

  “Clear as a bell,” Mr. Butler said through clenched teeth, the smile on his face now decidedly a grimace.

  Adam stood, holding out his hand to Carly. “Good. That’s all I wanted to hear.” It was all Carly could do to hide her smile as they left the office and the building.

  They walked together in silence toward their cars, Carly’s hand still clasped in Adam’s. While she was delighted at the way Adam had handled Mr. Butler, the whole morning had been such a crazy rollercoaster of ups and downs that she was in something of a daze.

  When they reached their cars, Adam dropped her hand and turned to her. “Carly,” he whispered, tears filling his eyes. “I’m so, so sorry. I really fucked up. I shouldn’t have sent you away like that. I know now how close I came to losing you. I’m hoping against hope you’ll give me a second chance. Do you think that’s even remotely possible?”

  Carly’s reply was pulled from her like a sigh, as Adam took her into his arms. “Yes,” she said. “Yes.”

  ~*~

  They were quiet as they drove along the parkway toward Scarsdale. Adam kept glancing at Carly, not quite believing he had her back, stunned at how easily he’d let her go.

  “What do I do about my car?” Carly suddenly said.

  It took Adam a second to process what she was asking. “I’ll send Jordan for it. You can keep it at my place.”

  Carly nodded. Adam continued to glance every few seconds toward the passenger seat to make sure she was actually there, and not part of some daydream.

  “What?” Carly finally said, her face breaking into a tentative smile as she met his gaze.

  “You.”

  “Me?” Carly gave him a quizzical look.

  Adam laughed. “I’m sorry. I just can’t keep my eyes off you. I can’t believe how incredibly stupid I was. I feel like a guy on death row who got a reprieve right before they inserted the lethal injection.”

  A faint blush moved over Carly’s cheeks. “So what happens now?

  “Do we pick up where we left off? Finish the contract?” She was staring straight ahead again, her expression difficult to read.

  “No. The contract is done.”

  She glanced his way, her eyes questioning, biting her lower lip.

  Adam grinned in spite of himself. So much for training that out of her. Yet now he found the gesture charming—an indication of her vulnerability that made him want to take her into his arms and kiss away all her fears.

  “What I mean is,” he said, reaching over to touch her knee, “I don’t want you back under any kind of contractual terms. I just want you back. I want us to try this thing without the artificial constraints of the auction contract.” Recalling her old car stuffed with what appeared to be all her worldly possessions, he hastened to add, “I think we lit enough of a fire under Butler’s ass to make sure you get paid everything you’re owed when the time comes.” He gave a small, mirthless laugh but then sobered. “But regarding us, I’m hoping you might see your way to giving this another try on equal footing. As partners.”

  “Partners?”

  “I realize now I used the whole contract thing as a way to keep you at arm’s length. I’ve done that more or less my whole adult life. I don’t want to live that way anymore. I want to get to know you. I want you to know me. I want us to take our time—no schedules, no contracts, no deadlines.”

  They were in his neighborhood now, nearly to his street. At a stop sign, Adam turned to Carly, memorizing every line and plane of her sweet face. “I don’t know anything about you, Carly, other than you are submissive and masochistic, beautiful, intelligent, articulate, sensual and the sexiest woman I ever met.”

  Carly laughed, a deep, throaty laugh filled with happiness, her eyes crinkling into half moons, her cheeks dimpling. Adam realized he’d never heard her laugh before and that he wanted to hear it again, and often. “That’s it, huh?” she finally said, still grinning.

  Adam found himself laughing too, the sudden lightness inside nearly lifting him from his seat. She hadn't said yes, but she hadn't said no. She was there beside him, smiling at him, and he realized that was enough.

  ~*~

  Carly’s stomach clenched as she followed Adam across the threshold and into the imposing marble foyer of his house. Adam closed the door behind them and turned to her, taking her into his arms. He lowered his head, touching his lips to hers. It wasn’t their first kiss—there was the dream kiss that one night when she’d dared to sidle up beside him, aching with loneliness, needing to feel a man’s arms around her. But it was, she decided, their first conscious kiss, their first kiss as equals.

  She let her lips part as Adam’s tongue eased sweetly into her mouth. He pulled her closer, crushing her breasts to his chest, his hands cupping her ass as his kiss became more insistent. She could feel his erection, hard against her thigh. A delicious, sweet heat moved through her body, making her heart pound.

  When at last he pulled back, Carly found herself leaning forward, her mouth suddenly bereft from the loss of his kiss, her body cold without his surrounding warmth. “Carly, I have to have you. Now.” Adam’s voice was hoarse. Carly opened her eyes as he moved to her side, reaching to lift her into his arms.

  He held her close as he moved into the living room. Setting her down on a large sofa, he knelt beside her, his fingers fumbling at the buttons on her blouse. Within seconds he had it open. His expression was hungry, almost fierce, as he tugged at her bra, pulling it upward so her breasts sprang free, his mouth closing over one nipple, lips, teeth and tongue bringing it to an instant, aching erection. As he suckled, his hands sought her jeans, tugging at the snap, dragging the zipper down, pulling the denim, along with her underwear, down her legs.

  Carly was breathless, her heart beating fast. Adam stood just long enough to pull his shirt over his head. Carly reached behind her back, released the clasps of her bra and tossed it to the floor. Sitting up, she reached for Adam’s fly, pulling it open. Hooking her fingers on either side, she tugged at his shorts, slipping them past his narrow hips. His erection bobbed toward her, its tip glistening. Leaning forward, Carly closed her lips over the head, savoring the taste and feel of him.

  As she sucked the length of his shaft into her mouth, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. She would never have dared to take such liberties just a few hours earlier, but he had said they were to be partners—equals, and this was exactly and precisely what she wanted—no, what she needed—to do.

  He stood in her embrace for several long moments, his fingers twining in her curls as she worshipped his cock. “I need to be inside you, Carly,” he finally rasped, releasing her hair and pushing her back against the sofa. Kneeling in front of her, he lifted her onto the cushion.

  Carly held out her arms and Adam fell on top of her, his mouth again finding hers, his kiss even more urgent than before. His cock pressed hard against her wetness. She arched up, pulling him into her, aching to be filled, his name pulled from her lips as he entered her. She felt his hand on her throat, the primal, dominant gesture sending spirals of melting, submissive lust through every inch of her body. He moved in a perfect swivel inside her, his pubic bone rubbing against her throbbing clit with each thrust.

  “Open your eyes,” he commanded in a deep voice. “Look at me.” Carly forced her eyes to flutter open, trying to focus, trying to catch her breath. Adam’s eyes were bright, lit with that inner fire she’d seen a few times before, but along with the fire was something new, something vulnerable, even pleading.

  “Carly,” he whispered throatily, his voice breaking. “My darling, my love. Come for me. Now.”

  She did.

  ~*~

  The snow was falling thickly outside, blanketing the lawn and trees, fat flakes drifting past the windows. Inside the fire crackled in the hearth, its flames rouging the cheeks o
f the two couples sitting comfortably around the hearth.

  It was the last day of the year, and Adam and Carly had invited James and Amy to celebrate. They’d enjoyed a delicious meal prepared in advance by Adam’s cook and were having their coffee by the fire.

  Adam set down his cup and turned to Carly. “It’s time, slave girl.” He touched the O-ring on her collar, looping his finger into it and tugging gently. Carly felt herself slip immediately into the all-encompassing submissive state of being that came more and more easily to her as the weeks with Adam had eased into months. Everything extraneous seemed to slide away, her focus solely on her Master.

  “Kneel, head down, arms out.”

  Carly moved from the sofa to the carpet in a fluid movement, kneeling with her forehead to the ground, her arms stretched in front of her. She could hear the murmuring of James, Amy and her Master above her but she didn’t pay attention to the words. She had entered a different plane, an altered state of being.

  She stayed still, her mind emptying, a deep sense of calm moving over her. She felt the hem of her dress being lifted, and the warmth of the fire on her bare skin. Adam’s hand moved over her ass and she let out a breath, reveling in his touch, content to wait for his next command.

  They had talked about tonight and what he would expect from her. They had been working toward this moment for the last month, his knowledge of her triggers and limits deepening, her trust and ability to move through her fears stronger with each passing day. They had agreed they wanted witnesses for this new level of submission, and neither could think of anyone better to invite than James and Amy.

  She felt Adam’s hand on the back of her neck, her signal to rise. Carly lifted herself upright and stood. James, Amy and Adam were all standing as well. The men were both fully dressed in jeans and button down shirts. The women wore silky shifts that came to the knee, their nipples clearly outlined against the sheer fabric, both of them barefoot in the warmth of Adam’s comfortable house. Neither showed any sign of self-consciousness. Each understood that her body was a gift for her Master, never to be concealed or withheld.